The project initiator, Member of Parliament and Chair of the School of Naprapathy’s Advisory Board, Yvonne Andersson, was present for the inauguration.
This is Yvonne’s letter from the inauguration of the "Björnen" (The Bear) school in Kwamadule on February 10, 2014.
It is time for the inauguration of the Björnen school. The name was decided based on the primary donor, the School of Naprapathy, represented by signatories Inger and Björn Berg. The Swedish delegation included my husband, Jan-Willy Andersson, and our friends Maj-Britt and Kent Fager, who served as coordinators between Sweden and Tanzania during the construction period. A project group in Handeni was led by Kipojo, the director of an IT center at the FPCT in Handeni, who was also born in the Maasai village of Kwamadule. The group included leaders from the primary school and the municipal administration.
Our Land Rover was packed with gifts and people attending the inauguration. Unfortunately, it got stuck in the mud, and we had to travel a few kilometers on foot. The car was eventually back on the road, and we soon continued our journey. Upon arrival, we were met by a path lined with stones and patterns leading up to the school building. It was the first building in the village not made of mud, featuring two classrooms and a small staff room, with the front half painted blue. The classrooms were filled with newly made school desks. Behind it stood a smaller building containing seven toilets—three for girls, three for boys, and one for the teachers—the first toilets in the village. Next to it was a large water tank, also the first of its kind in the village. A red ribbon was stretched across the front of the school, ready to be cut! All around us were happy children, smiling Maasai, men in suits, and, of course, the two newly hired teachers. A little further away, women stirred large pots over charcoal fires; the Maasai chief had slaughtered a cow, and all five hundred guests were to be treated to a meal.
Diagonally behind the school, the foundation for a new building has been staked out. The Maasai themselves realize that no trained teacher will want to stay at the school unless there is acceptable housing available. Their own simple mud huts are not sufficient, the road between the town and the village is long and inaccessible, and the teachers also need to keep an eye on the school. Now they are asking for help to build a residence for the teachers who will be serving there, and I cannot help but agree. The teachers must live and reside near the school.
Mama Sarah, the female leader of the village, embraced me and welcomed me. She showed me how the church had provided two large tents and plastic chairs for the inauguration. The rain would not be allowed to dampen the mood. Everywhere there were children in their school uniforms, which are mandatory in Tanzania; they sang in various choirs and clapped their hands, even though speeches were held for hours. It was a big day with representatives from many places. We were there from Sweden, having provided the funding and support, along with the district governor and leaders from the region and municipality. Naturally, there were also leaders from neighboring Maasai villages and from the primary school in Handeni.
The welcome we received was impressive, and the 126 enrolled students were overjoyed. In my inauguration speech, I spoke about what had happened—about how, a year ago, I came to the village during a study trip and was moved by the need for the school the Maasai were requesting. I promised to go home and seek donors, the Maasai promised to build the school, Kipojo promised to be the project manager, and the District Commissioner promised to provide good teachers. Everyone kept their promises! I spoke about the primary donor represented by Björn Berg, about the bear and the world map I presented, and about the materials that each student would receive, which were handed over to Mama Sarah. Each student received a notebook, a pencil, and an eraser. There were also pencil sharpeners, crayons, jump ropes, and balls. We had to demonstrate the latter, as such things had never existed in this Maasai village. The children simply didn't know what a ball was. The plaque with the name "Björnen" was displayed, and identical copies were presented to the District Commissioner and to Kipojo, the project manager.
The ribbons were cut by the District Commissioner and me to the cheers of the audience. Food was served, and we were guests of honor. The governor sent his greetings to the donors and welcomed them to his district and to Kwamadule. I was moved by everyone's joy. I will never forget this day, when the school came to the village! From the bottom of my heart, I hope that those of you who made the school possible through your donation can sense the joy and the hope for the future that you have created in Kwamadule.
More photos from the inauguration can be found on Facebook.